Machine for making window-shades.



B. W. TUCKER. MACHINE FOR MAKING WINDOW SHADES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 14,1906. 976,949. Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

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B. W. TUCKER. MACHINE FOR MAKING WINDOW SHADES.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.14, 1906.

976,949 Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

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B. W. TUCKER. MACHINE FOR MAKING WINDOW SHADES.

AIPLIOACL'ION FILED FEB. 14,1906.

Patented Nov. 29, 1910 8 SHEETS-SHEBT 3.

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B. W. TUCKER. MACHINE FOR MAKING WINDOW SHADES.

. APPLICATION FILED FEB- 14,1906. 976,949.

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Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

B. W.TUGKER. MAGHINEPOR MAKING WINDOW SHADES.

APPLICATION FILED T12R14, 1906 976,949.

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Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

B. W. TUCKER. MACHINE FOR MAKING WINDOW SHADES.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 14, 1906. 976,949. Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

B. W. TUCKER. MACHINE FOR MAKING WINDOW SHADES.

' APPLICATION FILED FEB. 14,1906. 976,949. Patented N0v.29, 1910.

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B. W. TUCKER. MACHINE FOR MAKING WINDOW SHADES.

v APPLICATION FILED PEB.14,1906. 97 6 949. 4

8 8HEETS-SHEET 8.

Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

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BENJAMIN w. 'IUGKER, E NEWARK, NEw JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 JOHN IBEECHER PATTON, 0E KENT, OHIO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

MACHINE FOR MAKING WINDOVI-SI'IADES.

Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

Application filed February 14, 1906. Serial No. 301,072.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN -W. TUCKER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Making lVindoW-Shades, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates more particularly to machines such as disclosed in Reissue Patent No. 12,445, granted to Ephraim 0. Engberg and dated February 6, 1906.

The primary object of the invention is to provide simple, efiicient and automatically operated means whereby the material or goods employed in the manufacture of window shades may be quickly and accurately measured and cut to the proper width and length from a web or roll, one end wound upon a shade roller, and the other end folded to form a loop or hem for the usual shade slat.

A further object of the invention is to provide simple and efficient means for tacking one end of the material to the shade roller, and for forming and sewing a side hem lengthwise of the shade at each edge thereof.

Vith these and other objects in view, the invention will be hereinafter more particularly described with references to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and will then be pointed out in the claims at the end of the description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of machine embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line IL-II of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a plan view, the sewing attachmentand means for forming the side hems being removed. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the main parts of the machine. Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary front view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the means for tacking the material to the shade roller, the part in section being taken on the line VV of Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on the line VI-VI of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a section on the'line VH, showing the chute and bottom of the hopper for agitating the tacks in the hopper. Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical section, partly in elevation, of the shade-measuring means or device and the means for stopping the feeding and shade-roller winding means. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan of the movable bearing and adjusting screw. Fig. 10 is a front elevation, partly in section, of the mechanism shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is a vertical section partly in elevation of one of the clutches, taken on the line XI-XI of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a fragmentary section of the gears for operating the adjusting screw of the measuring device. Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation, partly in section, of the shade-slat loop or hemforming means. Fig. 14 is a vertical section on the line XIV-XIV of Fig. 18, showing also the additional feed device for the material. Fig. 15 is a detail elevation of the transverse cutting knife. Fig. 16 is; a section on the line XVI-XVIII of Fig.

17 showing the means for throwing the roll 25 away from the feed roll 24. Fig. 17 is a sectional plan of the device shown in Fig. 16. Fig. 18 is a fragmentary elevation of the starting lever and means for looking it to prevent starting the machine. Fig. 19 is a fragmentary section taken on the line XIXXIX of Fig. 18; and Fig. 20 is a fragmentary elevation showing how the machine might be started by a treadle instead of by a hand lever.

The frame 20 may be of any suitable form, and between the ends of the frame is a bar 21 having the usual centers 22, one or both of which are adjustably held on said bar. A'roll 23 of fabric, goods or shade material 23' is supported between the centers and is led over a roll 24 and between said roll and a tension roll 25 forming a feeding device for the material. The roll 24 may be of wood or metal and may be covered with a layer of rubber, while the roll 25 is loosely held in boxes and is normally forced toward the roll 24 by the springs 26, the material being gripped between the feed rolls sufficiently to be drawn from the roll 23. An eccentrically pivoted lever 27 at each end is arranged to throw and hold the roll 25 away from the roll 24 as a ready means for threading or removing the mate rialfrom between the rolls. The end of the material is fastened to the shade-roller 2-8 by tacks or otherwise, and as the feeding means and the shade-roller are rotated as hereinafter described, the material will be forced forward and will be wound on the shade-roller.

The material passes from the feed rolls along curved fingers 29 which are fastened to a transverse bar 30, and then to the edgetrimming knives 31 and 32. These knives or cutters are beveled on one side and overlap to make a clean cut, and said cutters are carried by the brackets 33 which are adjustable along the rods 34. The knives 31 are splined to the shaft 35, and the knives 32 are splined t the shaft 36, so that as the shafts are rotated the knives or cutters will also be rotated, and by reason of the spline connection the knives may be adjusted to cut the material to different widths as in the said patent ref-erred to.

As a means for making the shade-slat loop or hem various means may be employed. A

transverse support 37 is rigidly held be tween the ends of the frame, and above the support is a vertically movable cross-head 38. This crosshead, Figs. 2, 13 and 14, is suitably guided in the frame, and yieldingly held thereto is a member or bar 39. The member 39 is guided at its ends in the crosshead 38, and is normally forced downward by the springs 40 which surround the rods 41, the latter being guided and vertically movable in the cross-head. The material is clamped between the support 37 and the .yieldingly held member 39 preparatory to cutting the material transversely as will be described later. Adjacent to the clamping member 39 is a folding blade 42, which latter is fixed to a second yielding member 43 also carried by and guided at its ends in the cross-head. The second yielding member or device 43 is supported by the rods 44, and around the rods 44 are the springs 45 which normally force the member 43 away from the main part of the cross-head until'stops carried by the rods engage said head as with the rods 40; This member 43 is grooved, and movable in the groove is' a second folding blade 46 which is fixed to the cross-head. To the cross-head is secured the rods 47, the lower ends of which are guided in the frame and are'movable in the path of an adjustable bolt or stop 48, to limit the downward movement of the crossheacl and the second folding blade 46. A sleeve 49 is held on each rod 47, and beneath the sleeve is a spring 50, one end of which rests against a collar 51 on said rod. The sleeves are engaged by one end of the pivoted levers 52, the other end of each lever being operated by'a cam 53, a cam groove being provided for this purpose. As the shaft 54, carrying the .cams 53, is rotated the rods 47 will be forced downward until they are arrested by the stops 48, thus st0pping the downward movement of the crosshead 38.

The materialis forced in a folded position by the blades'42 and 46 between the members of a creasing device 55. '-The support 37 has a part 56 which guides and holds a member 57. This member is slidingly held on the part 56 and has rods 58 and springs 59 which normally force the member away from the part 56 to provide a groove for the folding blade 42 to enter and form the first fold in the material. A second rocking member 60 is pivoted to the support 37 and is normally forced away from the member 57 to provide a space for the blade 46 to force the material between said members. A series of arms 61 are secured to a shaft (52, and carried by the arms are the adjustable stops or devices 63 adapted to engage the member 60. One or more crank-arms 64 are held to the shaft 62, and connected to the cranks 64 are the arms 65, the latter being supported at one end by the shaft 54, and are moved by the cams 53, the periphery of which engage rolls on said arms. The movement of the arms 65 will rock the arms 61 and through them move the rocking member 60 and the sliding member 57 to crease and finish the folds made by the blades 42 and 46. As the cross-head moves downward, the member 39 will clamp the material between said member and the bar or support 37. At this time a transverse cutting knife 66, to be presently described, is operated to cut the material, and

on further movement of the cross-head the blade 42 will complete the first fold forming the inturned end of the shadeslat loop or hem. The under side of the member 39 is grooved at 67 lengthwise thereof for the passage of the knife, and one side of the member opposite the blade 42 may be shorter than. the other so that the material may be clamped on one side only of the knife, while the short part permits the end of the material to be readily withdrawn from under the member as said blade moves farther downward. In this position the members 43 of the cross-head will have its downward movement arrested by the bar, device or member 57 of the creasing means, thereby clamping the material between said members. The cross-head continues its downward movement carrying therewith the blade 46 which will force the material between the rocking member 60 and sliding member 57 until the rods 47 are arrested by the stops 48. The springs 50 will yield to the movement of the arms 52 if necessary, and after the head 38 begins to move upward the member 60 of the creasing device is operated so as to clamp the material at the two folds to finish the folding of the material, and are then permitted to return to their inactive position. This forms two distinct creases in the material at one end, and as soon as the material is released it will fold over to form a loop or hem with the short end extending within the loop. By adjusting the stops 48 the throw of the cross-head and blade 46 may be varied and thereby the length of hem or loop for different sizes of slats.

lVith the exception of the automatic means for operating the folding and creasing means and the reversing of the position of the folding blades, the construction of the loop-forming means and the construction and operation of the transverse cutting knife is substantially the same as in the patent to Ephraim O. Engberg, No.-883,793, dated April 7, 1908. As in said applica tion the knife 66 is fastened to the knifebar 68, and this bar is slidingly held in a slot or groove in the part 56 of the bar or support 37 under the groove of the clamping member 39 of the cross-head. A wire 69, or other flexible connection, is fastened to one end of the knife bar 68 and passes through the frame of the machine, around a guide roll 70 mounted on the frame, and then around a drum 71, which is held to rotate on a bracket secured to the machine frame. The drum 71 has two parts 72 and 73, the larger part 73 serving to wind the wire 69 thereon. The smaller part 72 has a flexible connection or a wire 74; adapted to be wound thereon, one end of which is fastened to the part 72 and the other end to a weight 7 5, the latter being guided in a tubular device 76. The weight 75 serves to force the knife in the direction to cut the material, and to yieldingly hold it at one side of the machine, and the drum having two parts of different diameters will impart a greater movement to the knife for the same relative movement of the weight. At the other end of the knifebar is secured a flexible connection or a wire 77 that passes through an opening in the frame and around a guide roll 78, then around a drum 79, which is rotatably held on the edge cutter shaft 35. To a stud is pivotably held a lever 80, on one end of which is a friction pulley or wheel 81, which normally engages a clutch drum 82 adapted to rotate with or independently of the feedroll shaft 83. A power wheel 84 is held to rotate on the shaft 83 and may be operated manually by a handle, or said wheel may be arranged to be driven by an electric or other motor. The pulley 81 on the end of lever is forced downward by a spring 85 to cause said pulley to frictionally engage the surface of the clutch drum 82 and a part of the winding drum 79, and as the shaft 83 is rotated, the drum 79 will wind the wire 77 and will move the knife across the machine under the material, the friction pulley slipping when the knife-bar is entirely across the machine, or against a stop. As soon as the lever 80 is operated to release the friction pulley 81, the weight 75 will force the knife quickly across the machine to cut the material while clamped between the member 39 and the support 37 of the loop or socket-forming means. The lever 80 is fastened to the rotary shaft or stud 86, and on the inner end of the lever shaft is an arm 87. This arm is in the path of a projection 88 carried by the cross-head 38, so that the head as it moves downward and at the proper time, will cause the projection 88 to engage the arm 87 and thereby release the friction pulley and through it the transverse cutting knife.

As the cross-head of the loop-forming means completes its upward movement the forward edge of the next shade to be made is lifted to pass by and over the creasing device and between the cross-head and said device when the feeding means is again started. For this purpose the rocking fingers 93 are provided adjacent to the crosshead 39. These fingers are held to a transverse shaft 34, and on one end of said shaft is an arm 95. The arm 95 is in the path of movement of a projection 96 carried by the cross-head and is raised by said projection to lift the forward ends of the fingers 93 and the material on the upward stroke of the cross-head. A spring 97 normally forces the ends of the fingers downward as soon as the cross-head releases the arms 95 on its next movement, a stop 98 being provided to prevent said fingers moving toofar.

The length of shade may be measured by any suitable means. As shown the shaft 83 of the feed roll 24- is provided with a clutch 100. This clutch, Figs. 8 and 11, has a collar 101 fixed to the shaft 83 and carried by this collar is a pawl 102. The pawl 102 is pressed by a spring 103 to engage teeth 10%, of a drum 82, which latter when rotated will rotate the shaft 83 and feed roll 24 through the pawl 102 and collar 101 when the pawl is in the position shown in Fig. 8. A friction disk 105 is loosely held on the collar 101, and carried by said disk is a wheel 106 having a single tooth, which is adapted to be engaged by a pawl 107, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 11, to hold the disk from rotating. On the disk 105 is a boss 108 which projects within the drum and carries a spring-pressed bolt 109, and a lug 110 is also carried by said disk, both lug and boss being positioned with respect to the tooth on the wheel 106. As soon as the pawl 107 is released as shown in Fig. 8, the disk 105 will rotate with the drum 10% until the lug 110 engages a projection on the collar 1.01, which will throw the bolt 109 away from the end of the clutch pawl 102 to permit the spring 103 to force the pawl into engagement with the teeth of the drum and rotate the feed roll. The reverse of this action takes place when the pawl 107 stops the rotation of the disk 105, in which case the bolt 109 engages its end of pawl 102, and owing to the strength of its spring will overcome the spring 103 and disengage the pawl 102 from the teeth of the drum 104 and stop the feed.

' The feed roll 24 is preferably of such a diameter that at each revolution it will feed a fixed amount of material forward, so that stopping the feed at a given point will determine the length of shade to be made acl cording to the number of revolutions of the feed. The pawl 107 is held on a shaft 112 and has its forward end or toe 113 adapted to rest on a movable device, block or bearing 114, of a measuring and feed-stopping device 115, a spring 116 being provided to throw the pawl into engagement with the 'tooth of the wheel 106 of the clutch 100 to stop the feed when said bearing is moved. The bearing 114 is normally forced against a stop 117, Fig. 9, by a spring 118, and said bearing has a threaded aperture which is engaged by a screw 119. This screw is ro- 'tatably held in a boss 120 on the end of an arm 121, and said screw has collars fixed thereto on each side of the boss 120 and may have triple or other threads thereon to permit quick lengthwise adjustment of said arm with respectto the bearing 114. The arm 121 is slotted to span and be supported atone end by the shaft 54, and at its other end is slidingly held in the bearing 114. On the arm 121 is a projection or roll 123 which is normally in the path of the cam 124. The position of the roll 123 with respect to the periphery of the cam 124 determines the length of shade to be made and the point at which the feeding of the material is to stop. This cam 124 is spiral and when it engages the roll 123 it will force the arm 121, bearing 114, and screw 119 outward and will release the toe 113 of the pawl 107 to cause'said pawl to stop the feed rolls as already described. The pawl will be disengaged from the bearing 114 until the cam 124 has made nearly a complete revolution, when the spring 118 will force the bearing against the stop 117, thereby restoring the roll on the arm 121 to its former position. Just prior to the complete revolution of the cam 124 and before the spring 118 restores the bearing 114 to its former position, the cam 125 will en age the arm 126 so as to raise the toe 113 of the pawl 107 in position to rest on said bearing. This raising of the toe 113 disengages the pawl from the clutch "sothat the latter will again operate the feed rolls for a short period, but long enough to automatically feed the forward edge of the shade in position to be fastened to the shade roller. The machine is timed to stop automatically after the completion of each shade, and by the means shown a part of 7 each shade is fed before it is fastened to the shade-roller, and the remainder according to its length after it is fastened thereto.

To rotate the screw 119 the outer end thereof is splined to a small gear or pinion 127 and is supported in a bearing on the frame of the machine. The screw is adapted to move lengthwise through the pinion 127 when the bearing 114 and arm 121 is moved by the cam 124. A larger gear 128 is in mesh with the pinion 127 and is carried by a disk 129. This disk is rotatably held on the frame, and is provided with a spring catch 130 adapted to engage notches in a plate 131 forming a part of the casing 132 which incloses the gears, and is fastened to the machine frame. The numbers on the dial plate indicate feet so that if the catch 130 engages a notch as shown the length of shade will be two feet, and if the next notch three feet or any other length according to the position of catch 130, up to the greatest length of shade to be made, the numbering on the dial plate 131 corresponding to the numbering of the lines on the cam 124, thus indicating at what point in its revolution it will disengage the bearing 114 from the pawl 107 to stop the feed.

The shade-roller holding means is located at the front of the machine and is adapted to removably hold the shade-roller, and adjacent to the shade-roller holding means is a transverse brace or bar 133 to which are secured a series of strips or plates 134 that extend to and pass through slots in the member of the creasing device. These strips support and guide the forward edge of the material as it is fed in position to be fastened to the shade-roller. The shade-roller is supported by a spring-pressed center or device 135 slidingly held in bearing 136, which bearing is adjustable along a support or slide 137. A chuck 138 supports the other end of the shade-roller and is provided with projections to engage and rotate said roller. The chuck and its shaft or spindle 139 may be also made adjustable transversely if desired, said shaft being journaled in bearings 140 and 141. On the end of the shaft 139 is a grooved pulley 142 which is rotated by a belt 143 that. passes around a larger pulley 144 fastened to the edge cutter shaft 35, the belt bein adapted to slip when the material is wound tight on the roller. The parts just described are substantially the same as in the patent and application referred to.

As shown the material is adapted to be fastened'to the shade-roller by a single movement of a part of the machine. The support or slide 137 Figs. 2, 5 and 6, is held to move vertically in guides on the machine frame, and entering recesses in the support are the ends of the levers 145 which are pivotally held tothe shaft 62 and have their other ends connected to rods 146. The lower ends of the rods 146 are fastened to a treadle 147, by which the support 137 is raised when the forward end of said treadle is depressed, a spring 148 being provided to assist in restoring the treadle to its former position.

On the support or slide 137 is the adjustable bracl-zet 149 in which the bearing 136 is vertically movable, and a second bracket 150 in which the bearing 140 is vertically movable. A third bracket 152 is secured to one end of the support 137 in which the bearing 141 is vertically movable. The bearings 136, 140 and 141 carry the shade roller holding means, and each bearing is normally forced downward in its bracket by a spring 154. Beneath the shade-roller is a shaft 155, along which are a series of anvils or braces 156. These braces are adjustable along the support 137 by the screws 157 and have projecting ends to hold and guide the forward end of the shade preparatory to fastening it to the shade-roller. To the shaft 155 are fastened a series of curved fingers 158 adapted when the shaft is rotated to force the end of the shade around the roller in fastening position. The ends of the shaft 155 are held in brackets on the support 137, and on each end of the shaft is a segmental gear 159. These gears are adapted to mesh with teeth of racks 160, fastened to the fixed bar 130 when the support 137 is moved vertically and will thereby rotate the finger shaft. Each gear 159 has a foot 161 which is adapted to engage and slide along a straight part of the rack and to hold the fingers in a raised position until the gears again engage the racks on the lowering of the support so as to release the foot and force the fingers downward. In the path of the bearing 141 is a belt 162 which is held in a fixed bracket 163 and is adapted to engage the bearing 141 when the support 137 is lowered. The purpose of this bolt is to raise the spindle 139, the shade-roller and the connections above the braces or anvils 156 to permit the shade-roller to rotate and wind the shade thereon and to permit the forward end of the n :;t shade to be fed beneath the shade roller and over the braces and the fingers. A second stop or bolt may also be provided to raise the bearing 136 and to work in connection with the bolt 162. By this means a brace is provided under the shade-roller at each point where a tack is to be driven into said roller, and the forward end of the shade is automatically forced around the roller ready for tacking.

The shade-roller as it is raised by the lifting of the support 137 is moved toward a taclncollecting or receiving device 164. This device may be of any suitable form. As shown the device is rotary and comprises a series of radial permanent magnets 165. These magnets are fastened to a sleeve 166 which is held to rotate in a frame 167. The sleeve is splined so as to slide along the shaft 168, there being a series of such devices and frames according to the number of tacks to be driven into the shade-roller. The shaft and tack-collecting device rotate intermittently, and the separate arms or magnets are successively brought to a point adjacent to a tack-collecting chute 169 forming a continuation of a hopper 170. This hopper is loosely supported on a shaft 171, and at its forward end is loosely held on a shaft 172. There is a hopper for each collecting device 164 and both hopper and device are movable together with the frame 167, which latter is adjustably held to the transverse bar 173 by the bolts 174. To the shaft 172 is fastened a collar 175 for each hopper, and to the collar is fastened the plate 176 forming the bottom of the hopper. An arm 177 is held on the shaft 172 at one end, and in the path of said arm is a rotary star or toothed wheel 178 fastened to the shaft 171. The shaft 171 has a pulley 179 fastened thereto, which is connected by a belt 180 to a drive pulley 181 on the feed-roll shaft, so that as the shaft 171 is rotated the hopper bottoms will be vibrated to agitate the tacks in the hoppers and cause them to pass down the chute 169. This chute has a slotted bottom or guide 182 and a yielding plate or member 183 over the guide. The heads of the tacks are next the yielding member, and the latter has an inturned end 184 which holds the tacks in the chute until released. The shaft 172 at one side of the machine has a lever 185, Figs. 1 and 3, and at the other end an arm 186 that support the shaft 172, the other end of the lever being in the path of a projection 187 on the cross-head 38. The lever is forced in one direction by the springs 188 and 189, and when moved in the opposite direction by the projection 187 on the upward stroke of the cross-head the hoppers will be moved or rocked so as to throw the lower end of the tack chute away from the tack collector or device 164. The inturned end 184 will engage the stop 190 on the frame 167 and will raise the yielding member as in Fig. 2, to release one tack of the row, the remainder of the row being held by the point 191 of the stop, which enters between the two lowest tacks. The tack that is released is held by the end of the chute, and as soon as the cross-head of the loop-forming means is operated each hopper will return to the position shown in Fig. 6, which will permit the magnetic arm adjacent thereto to remove the released tack from said chute. Rotary motion is now given the devices 164 to carry the tacks over the shade-roller in position to be driven into said roller when the latter and the support 137 is raised as already clescribed. To rotate the devices 164 a ratchet wheel 192 is secured to the shaft 168, and on the shaft is an arm 193. A paw'l is carried by said arm and is adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel, and the arm is rocked by a rod 194 of an eccentric on the shaft 54, there being a second pawl 195 to prevent the ratchet slipping. The tacks Will 7 thus be delivered individually to the collecting device and the row of tacks onthe devices will be forced into the shade-roller by the movement of the treadle 1&7 so as to fasten the end of the shade to said roller. This tack device is made the subject of my appli- V cat-ion filed March 3, 1906, Serial No. 304,080.

. frame and at each side of the table is a sewing machine 199 which is provided with the usual hemmer for turning over the material and is operated in any suitable way. At the same time the hem is formed the sewing machine mechanism sews the hem with the usual Zig-zag stitch, the material being turned as shown in Fig. 3. From the roller 198, the material passes to the auxiliary feed rolls 200, the latter being carried by transverse shafts and properly timed with respect to the feed roll 2%. The sewing attachment may be removed at any time, or the material may be fed direct to the loop-forming means, in which case the auxiliary feed may. be dispensed with or not as desired.

Any suitable timing and operating mechanism may be employed for the several parts. The feed-roll shaft 83, through a train of gears 200 rotates the edge trimming cutters, the transverse cutting knife mechanism, the auxiliary feed rolls and the shade-roller winding means, so that stopping, the feed roll 24, through the clutch 100, will also stop these several parts. A second train of gears 201 operates the cam shaft 5 1 from the feed-roll shaft 83 but independent thereof. This train of gears is operated by a second clutch mechanism which starts and stops the entire machine. This clutch 201 is similar to the clutch 100, but instead of rotating the feed-roll shaft 83, it is adapted to rotate the drum 82 of said clutch 100. To the drum 202 of the clutch 201 is held the drive pulley 84:, and the toothed wheel or disk 203 is adapted tobe engaged by an arm of a lever 20 1 to disengage the operating pawl of the clutch as previously described. This lever 204 has three arms, one 205 to operate the clutch, a secondarm 206 to connect by a link 207 to a hand lever 208 and a third arnr209. By raising the hand lever 208 against the tension of the spring 210, the arm 205 will be released from the toothed wheel 203 and will cause the clutch 201 to start the machine in mo tion. This movement throws the arm 209 downward so that a roll carried thereby and fitting a cam groove 211 in the gear'212 onthe shaft 54 will hold the lever 204 and i the hand lever 208 in this position and until a complete revolution of said shaft isniade.

At this time the machine will be stopped automatically by the part 213 of the cam groove engaging the roller on the arm 209, thereby restoring the lever 20%, and the hand lever 208 to its former position and releasing the clutch through arm 205. During one revolution of the shaft 54, the ma; terial is trimmed, measured, cut transversely, hemmed at the side if necessary. the shade-slat loop formed, and the shade wound on the shade-roller.

To operate the machine, the material passed around and between the feed-rolls 24; and 25 and through the machine as shown in Fig. 2, if side hems are to be made,'or direct to the shade-roller holding means if the material is simply cut lengthwise. The treadle 1 17 is now depressed which will force the support 137 upward carrying therewith the shade'roller 28. This movement will force the forward edge of the ma terial around the shade-roller to fastening position, and on further movement a row of tacks on the devices 16 1 will be forced through the material into the roller to fasten the material thereto as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The treadle is now released so as to restore the shade-roller holding means to the position shown in Fig. 2. By raising the hand lever 208 the clutch 201 and clutch 100 will rotate the feed-roll shaft 83 and the cam shaft 54 through which the several parts are operated. This will feed the material, cut it lengthwise and wind it on the shade-roller and will force the transverse cutting knife across the machine to cutting position. The feed will continue until the cam 1241 of the measuring device releases the bearing 11 1 from the pawl 107 and cause the said pawl to release the clutch 100 and thereby stop the feed when the proper length of shade is fed forward according to the length of shade to be made. The shaft 54 continues to rotate and by means of the cams 53, levers 52, and rods 4-7 will force the cross-head 38 downward so as to clamp the material between the support 37 and the yielding member 39 of said head. This movement of the cross-head will release the friction pulley 81 and free the winding drum 79 so that the transverse cutting knife will be forced quickly across the machine by the weight 7 5 to cut the material. As the material is being cut, or immediately thereafter, the head is moved farther downward to cause the folding blade 42 to form the first fold in the material. On further movement of the cross-head the second fold is made by the blade 46 and the length of fold depends on the movement of said blade, the material being clamped by the member 43 before said blade 46 begins to form the fold. The blades are now released by the upward movement of the cross-head, and the creasing device 55 is then operated by the arms (31, 64 and 65 to finish the folds. The members of the creasing device are permitted to return to an inactive position, which will release the end of the shade to form the shade-slat loop, as shown in Fig. 14-, for the reception of the usual shade-slat set forth in the patent and application herein referred to. Before the complete revolution of the shaft 54 the cam 126 will engage the arm 125 and disengage the pawl 10? from the clutch 100 to again start the feed. This will feed the forward edge of the next shade to the shade-holding means to be fastened to the next shade-roller and at the same time will wind the remainder of the completed shade on its roller. The cam 124: is then in position to permit the bearing 11%- of the measuring device to be restored by the spring 118 under the toe 113 of the pawl 107. At this time the part 213 of the cam 211 will throw the arm 209 of the lever 20% to its former position to cause the arm 205 to engage and release the clutch 201 and stop the machine. The part of each shade fed forward prior to stopping of the machine is taken into consideration and the dial plate of the measuring device has its notches positioned accordingly.

From the foregoing it will be seen that window shades may be made substantially automatically and that the shades so made will be accurately cut, measured and fitted to the shade-roller.

By operating the tacking means separately the fastening of the shade to the roller is under inspection and control of the operator to a greater extent than if operated automatically, but it is to be understood that the tacking device may have its parts timed with and operated by the driving mechanism of the machine. here the tacking is done by a separate movement as described, the hand lever 208 may be locked against accidental movement to start the machine until the tacking is complete. For this purpose, Figs. 18 and 19, the hand lever is provided with a recess 21 1, and this recess is adapted to be engaged by the end of a spring-pressed bolt 215. This bolt is held on the machine frame and its inner end is in the path of one of the arms or levers 145. As the levers 1 15 are moved to raise the sup port 137 and the shade-roller winding means, the end of the bolt will be engaged by an inclined part of said lever and will force the bolt into engagement with the recess in the hand lever, thereby holding said hand lever from movement until the tacking is complete and the support 137 is again lowered.

The sewing machine attachment may be dispensed with and the machine may be started by a treadle instead of a hand-lever. The arm 206, Fig. 20, of the lever 204: may be connected to a rod 216. This rod is connected to an arm 217, which is fastened to the treadle shaft 218, otherwise the operation is the same as with the hand-lever.

It will be understood that changes may be made in some of the parts, and that some of the parts may be used in other relations; and when desired an arm or other device may be provided for emergency purposes to stop the machine at any part of the revolution of shaft 54 by engaging the toothed disk of the clutch 201, in addition to the arm of lever 20 1, should anything occur requiring sudden stopping of the machine.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a machine for making window shades, the combination with means for holding a web of shade material, of shade-roller holding means, means for rotating the shaderoller holding means to wind the material on the roller, means for feeding the material, means for trimming the edges of the material lengthwise thereof, means for cutting the material transversely, mechanism for creasing the material transversely thereof for forming the loop for the shade slat, means for measuring the length of shade, a clutch mechanism operatively connected with the material feeding means, together with connections between the clutch mechanism and the measuring means whereby the feed of the material is automatically stopped when the proper length of shade has been fed forward.

2. The combination with means for holding a web of shade material, of folding and creasing devices adapted to fold and crease the material for forming the loop for the shade slat, means for cutting the material lengthwise thereof, devices for feeding the material toward the creasing devices, driving mechanism operatively connected with the feeding devices and the creasing devices, together with mechanism for automatically stopping the feeding devices when the proper length of material for a shade has been fed forward without stopping the main driving mechanism.

3. The combination with means for holding shade material, of means for feeding the material, means for forming a shade-slat loop or hem, means for stopping the feeding means, together with a device for automatically operating the feed stopping means at a fixed point according to length of shade to be made.

4:. The combination with means for holding shade material, of means for feeding the material, means for foaning a shade-slat loop, an automatically actuated knife movable across t-he machine to cut the material transversely, means by which a fixed amountof material may be fed and then the feeding means stopped, together with automatically Q'to'measure the length of the shade to be actuated mechanism for forming means.

5. The combination with means for holding shade material, of loop forming means, shade-roller holding means, together with mechanism for feeding a fixed length of material according to the length of shade at two distinct perlods for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination with means for holding shade material, of loop forming means, together with means for feeding a part of the material for each shade immediately the formation of the loop or hem of the preceding shade and then feeding the subsequent part later.

7. The combination with means for holding shade material, of loop forming means, shaderoller holding means, means for feeding a part of the material for each shade to operating the loopthe shade-roller holding means for attach- -ment to a shade-roller, and means for subsequently feeding a second part of the material forming the shade, whereby as each shade is completed the forward edge of the next succeeding shade is fed forward for attachment to the shade-roller.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination with means for holding shade material, of shade-roller holding means, means for rotating the shade-roller holding means to wind the material on a shade roller, feeding means for the material, a knife for cutting the material transversely, means for automatically stopping the feeding means at a fixed time according to the length of the shade to be made, loop forming means, together with automatic means for actuating the several parts, whereby substantially a complete shade may be made without stopping the machine. 7

9. In a machine for making window shades, the combination with means for holding shade material, of means for creasing and folding the material transversely for forming the shade-slat loop, means for feedingthe material, a clutch mechanism adapted normally to rotate the feeding mechanism, a pawl for disengaging the clutch to stop the feeding mechanism, a measuring device adapted to measure the length of the shade I to be'made, together with means whereby the pawl may be operated to release the clutch and stop thefeed. V V

10. The combination with means for holding sh'adematerial, of means for creasing and folding the material transversely for forming the shade-slat loop, means for feeding the material, a measuring device adapted made, together with means operated by the measuring device to automatically stop the feed.

11. The combination with means for holding shade material, of means for forming a shade-slat loop, means for feeding the material, mechanism adapted normally to rotate the feeding means, a measuring device adapted to measure the length of the shade to be made, together with means operated by the measuring device for automatically stopping the feeding means ata predetermined point.

12. The combination with means for holding shade material, of means for feeding the material, a measuring device, together with mechanism connecting the measuring device with the feed whereby the latter may be stopped by the measuring device without stopping the machine.

13. The combination with means for supporting shade material, means for forming aloop for the shade slat, of means for feeding the material, a clutch mechanism through which the feed is operated, a measuring device for measuring the length of the shade to be cut, together with means whereby the measuring device may be made to release the clutch and stop the feed without stopping the machine.

14. The combination with means for supporting shade material, means for forming a loop for the shade slat, of means for feeding the material, a clutch mechanism through which the feed is operated, a pawl, a measuring device for measuring the length of the shade to be cut, together with means where by the measuring device may be made to release the clutch and stop the feed without stopping the machine.

15. The combination with means for feeding shade material, of means for forming a loop for the shade slat, a movable bearing, connections between the bearing and the feeding means whereby the latter may be stopped when the bearing is moved without stopping the machine and means for moving the bearing.

16. The combination with means for hold.- ing and feeding shade material, of means for forming a loop for the shade slat, a movable bearing, connections between the bearing and the feeding means whereby the latter may be stopped when the bearing is moved, a cam and connections between the cam and bearing for moving the latter.

17 The combination with means for holding and feeding shade material, of a movable bearing, mechanism operating to stop the feed when the bearing is moved, a screw engaging the bearing for adjusting the latter, means for rotating the screw to adjust the bearing, a cam, and means operated by the cam for moving the bearing and thereby stop the feed.

18. The combination with means for holding shade material, of means for feeding the material, a movable bearing, mechanism operating tostop the feed when the bearing is moved, a screw engaging the bearing,

means for rotating the screw to adjust the bearing, a cam, a spring tending normally to force the bearing toward the cam, an arm movable with the screw and adjustable relatively with respect to the bearing and having a part thereof normally in the path of movement of the cam, and means for rotating the cam and thereby move the bearing to stop the feed.

19. In a machine of the character described, the combination with means for holding shade material, of means for feeding the material, a measuring device having a movable bearing, a screw engaging said bearing, means for rotating sald screw to adjust the bearing, connections between the bearing and the feeding means adapted to stop the feed when released, and a cam adapted to move the bearing and thereby stop the feed.

20. In a machine of the character described, the combination with means for holding shade material, of means for feeding the material, a device having a threaded bearing, an arm having a projection thereon, a screw engaging the bearing whereby the projection on the arm may be adjusted, a pawl normally engaging said bearing adapted to stop the feed when released, and a cam adapted to engage the projection on the arm and thereby release the pawl and stop the feed.

21. The combination with means for holding shade material, of means for feeding the material, a device having a threaded bearing, a screw engaging the bearing whereby the latter may be adjusted, a pawl normally engaging said bearing adapted to stop the feed when released, and means for moving the bearing to release the pawl and thereby stop the feed.

22. In a machine of the character described, the combination with means for holding shade material, of means for feeding the material, a measuring device having a threaded bearing, an arm supported at one end in the bearing, a screw engaging the bearing whereby the arm may be adjusted, mechanism operatively connected with the bearing and adapted to stop the feed, and means for moving the arm and bearing.

23. In a machine of the character described, the combination with means for holding shade material, of means for feeding the material, a device having a threaded bearing, an arm having a projection thereon, a screw engaging the bearing whereby the projection on the arm may be adjusted, a clutch mechanism operatively connected with the feeding means, a pawl normally engaging said bearing adapted to stop the feed through the clutch mechanism, and a cam adapted to engage the projection on the arm and thereby move the bearing and release the pawl to stop the feed.

24. The combination with feed mechanism, of means for forming a loop for the shade slat, a movable bearing adapted to stop the feed when the bearing is moved, and means for moving the bearing to stop the feed without stopping the machine.

25. The combination with feed mechanism, of a movable bearing, a screw engaging the bearing, a gear to which the screw is slidingly held, means for rotating the gear and screw and thereby adjust the bearing and means for moving the bearing to stop the feed.

26. The combination with feed mechanism, of a movable bearing, a screw engaging the bearing, a rotary disk, means for locking the disk, gears for rotating the screw, a cam, and means operated by the cam to move the bearing and thereby stop the feed. T

27. The combination with feed mechanism, of means for forming a loop for the shade slat, a movable bearing adapted to stop the feed when the bearing is moved, means for adjusting the bearing, and means for moving the bearing to stop the feed without stopping the machine.

28. The combination with a rotary spiral cam, of an arm having a projection thereon, a spring normally tending to force the proj ection in the path of said cam, a bearing in which one end of said arm is supported, a screw engaging a threaded aperture in said bearing and normally movable with said arm, a rotary disk, a gear carried by the disk, a pinion on said screw, and in mesh with the gear, said screw being splined so as to move lengthwise through the pinion, a casing for the gear having notches at predetermined points to fix the position of the projection on the arm, a pawl carried by the disk to hold the latter and the pinion in a locked position, a clutch mechanism, a pawl operatively connected with the bearing adapted to release the clutch mechanism when disengaged from said bearing, and a second cam adapted to restore the pawl to a position to be held by said bearing.

29. The combination with a cam, of an arm, a spring normally tending to force the arm in the direction of said cam, a bearing in which one end of said cam is supported, a screw engaging a threaded aperture in said bearing, means for rotating the screw, a clutch mechanism, a pawl operatively connected with the bearing and adapted to release the clutch mechanism when disengaged from said bearing, and a second cam adapted to restore the pawl to a position to be held by said bearing.

30. The combination with a cam, of a movable bearing, a screw engaging a thread ed aperture in said bearing, a rotary disk, a gear carried by the disk, a pinion on said screw, said screw being splined so as to move lengthwise through the pinion, a casing for the gear having notches at predetermlned points to fix the position of the bearing with respect to the screw, a pawl carried by the disk to hold the disk and the pinion in a locked orfixed position, a clutch mechanism, a pawl operatively connected with the bearing and adapted to release the clutch mechanism when disengaged from said bracket, and a second cam adapted to restore the pawl to a position to beheld by said bearing.

. 31. i The combination with means for holdingshade material, of means for forming a shade-slat loop in the materiaha knife movable acrossthe machine to cut the material transversely, means for forcing the knife to cut the material, frictional means for forcing the knife inthe oppositedirection, together with means for releasing the fr1ctional means and actuated by the movement of a part of the loop-forming means.

32. The combination with means for holding shade materiah'of means for forming a shade-slat loop or hem in the material, a knife movable across the machine for cutting the material transversely, means for forcing the knife to cut the material, means for forcing the knife across the machine to cutting position, together with means actuated by a part of the loop-forming means for releasingthe knife and cause it to be au tomatically forced across the machine.

33. The combination with means for holding shade material, of means including a cross-head for creasing and folding the ma terial transversely for the shade-slat, a knife movable across the machine for cutting the material transversely, means for forcing the knife to cut the material, frictional means for forcing the knife across the machine to cutting position, a lever carrying a part of the frictional means, and means carried by the cross-head for actuating the. lever to cause the knife to automatically cut the materlal.

34. The combination with means for holding shade material, of a movable cross-head, a knife movable across the machine for cutting the material transversely, a support, a

yielding member adapted to clamp the material' against the support adjacent to the knife, a folding blade yieldingly held to the cross-head, and a second blade fixed to the cross-head and having a greater movement than the first mentioned blade.

35. The combination with means for holding shade material, of a movable cross-head, a folding blade'yieldingly held to the cross= head, and a second blade fixed to the crosshead and having a longer movement than the yieldingly held blade.

36. In a machine for making window shades, the combination with means for holding shade material, of movable folding blades, adapted tofold the material trans-- ing shade material, of movable versely, independent creasing devices, to-

gether with automatic actuated means for operating the folding blade and the creasing devices.

37. In a machine of the character described, the combination with means for holding shade material, of a movable crosshead, folding blades carried by the crosshead, rods fixed to said cross-head, springs tending normally to force the cross-head upward, and levers acting against the springs for forcing the cross-head and blades downward for the purpose set forth.

38. The combination with means for holding .shade material of movable folding blades, a creasing device having movable members, a shaft, arms carried by the shaft, adjustable devices carried by the arms and normally engaging one of the movable membersof the creasing device, together with means for rocking the arms and thereby finish the creases.

39. The combination with means for holdfolding blades, a creasing device having two movable members, a shaft, arms carried by the shaft adapted to engage one of the movable members of the creasing device, levers, crank-arms connected to the shaft, rods connected to the crank-arms, and cams for actuating the rods.

40. The combination with means for holding shade material, of means for feeding the material, means for folding the material transversely for the shade-slat, and rocking fingers adjacent to said folding means adapted to lift the material and operated by the movement of the folding means.

41. The combination with means for holding shade material, of means for feeding the material, means for folding the material transversely for the shade-slat, together with means adjacent to said folding means for iiftiing the material at the starting of the 4:2. The combination with means for hold ing shade material, of means for feeding the material, means including a cross-head for folding the material transversely for the shade-slat, rocking fingers adjacent to said head adapted to lift the material at the starting of the feed, a spring normally forcing the fingers downward, and connections between the cross-head and fingers whereby the latter are rocked to lift the material dur ing the upward stroke of said head.

43. The combination with means for holding shade material, of means for feeding the material, a clutch, a hand lever adapted to throw the clutch in operative position to start the machine, and a cam for locking the lever in this position and to restore it to its former position to stop the machine.

44. In a machine of the character described, the combination with means for holding shade material, of shade-roller holding means, means for rotating the shaderoller holding means to wind the material on the roller, a knife for cutting the material transversely, means for foldlng the ma terial transversely for the shade slat, means for feeding the material, a clutch mechanism operatively connected to the shade-roller, holding means and the feeding means, a second clutch operatively connected with the folding means and the first mentioned clutch, together with means for causing both clutches to operate the parts in unison, or for causing one clutch to operate the parts connected therewith independently of the other. 45. In a machine of the character described, the combination with means for holding shade material, of shade-roller holding means, means for rotating the shaderoller holding means to wind the material on the roller, a knife for cutting the material transversely, means for folding the material transversely for the shade slat, means for feeding the material, together with means for operating the several parts automatically and for operating the feed at two distinct periods for each shade.

46. In a machine of the character described, the combination with means for holding shade material, of shade-roller holding means, means for rotating the shaderoller holding means to wind the material on the roller, a knife for cutting the material transversely, means for folding the material transversely for the shade slat, means for feeding the material, a clutch mechanism operatively connected to the shade-roller holding means and the feeding means, a second clutch operatively connected with the folding means and the first mentioned clutch, together with means for causing one clutch to stop the feeding and shade holding means while the folding means is operated through the other clutch.

47. In a machine for making window shades, the combination with a frame, of

means for holding a roll of shade material on the frame, feeding means for the material, means for rotating a shade-roller for winding the material thereon, means for cutting the material transversely, folding and creasing means comprising independently movable folding blades, and independent creasing means having movable members acting on the material to finish the creases after the blades have folded the same, together with means for tacking the material to the shade roller.

48. In a machine for making window shades, the combination with a frame, of means for holding a roll of shade material on the frame, means for feeding the material, means for rotating a shade-roller for winding the material thereon, knives for slitting the material lengthwise thereof, means for cutting the material transversely, mechanism comprising two independently movable blades for folding and creasing the material at two distinct points for forming the shade-slat loop, and means for tacking the material to the shade roller.

49. The combination with means for holding shade material, of means for feeding the material, means for folding the material for the shade-slat, a clutch, lever having arms one of which is adapted to release the clutch, a second arm on the lever a cam for locking the lever in one position when moved to start the machine and adapted to restore the lever again to stop the machine, and means for moving the lever.

50. The combination with means for holding shade material, of a set of feed-rolls for feeding the material, a second set of feed-rolls, edge trimming devices between the two sets of feed-rolls, and means for forming the shade-slat loop.

BENJAMIN W. TUCKER.

Witnesses:

L. R. COMPTON, GEORGE L. SCHENOK. 

